2 arrested in BB shootings in Worcester

WORCESTER — Police arrested two men Wednesday after several people reported being shot with a BB gun near Chandler Street and Murray Avenue.

Police found two suspects, identified as 19-year-old Christian Cruz and 20-year-old Kennie Mota-Cruz, inside an apartment complex shortly after the shootings were reported.

Mr. Mota-Cruz, of 21 Chandler St., and Mr. Cruz, of 6 Mott St., Apt. 1, were each charged with three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and discharge of a BB gun or air rifle on a public way.

Two of the victims, both reportedly shot in the head, were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening injuries. Witness said a third victim, a woman who was shot in the leg, left the area before police arrived.

The shootings were reported within minutes of each other, the first about 10:40 a.m.

Police cruisers converged on Chandler Street. A witness reported seeing someone shooting a BB gun out of a window in the Vendome and Saint Ives apartment buildings at 17-23 Chandler St.

"Officers were informed that a 44-year-old female was shot in the head with a BB gun while driving in her vehicle," police said in a news release. "The victim was stopped in traffic with her window rolled down when the incident occurred."

The woman pulled her car over on Southbridge Street, about two blocks to the south, to call police.

Police also found a 53-year-old man who had been shot by a BB in the head and shoulder. He was walking in front of an alley on Chandler Street when it occurred.

Adalberto Delbrey was one of the many people who gathered in the Kirsch Liquors parking lot, across Murray Avenue from the apartments, to watch the police activity. Several neighbors opened their windows and stuck their heads out to see what was going on.

"They shot a lady in the leg. She didn't call the cops; she just kept walking. But she was bleeding," Mr. Delbrey said. "The second guy got hit twice, in the head and face. He looked up and saw the window closing."

Witnesses directed officers to the spot the shots were fired from. Police entered 21 Chandler St. and found a black pellet gun and several pellets in one of the apartments. They also found the two suspects inside the complex.

Both of them were laughing as they were escorted out of the building, and as they waited for the police van to take them to the police station.

A crowd gathered as word of a shooting spread fast in the neighborhood.